Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2010-11: T.J. Tynan recorded 54 points in 44 games for Notre Dame in his freshmen year of college hockey. He scored 23 goals and put his passing in display with 31 assists for the Fighting Irish. In June’s draft, the Blue Jackets selected him with the 67th overall pick in the third round.

2011-12: His sophomore was solid as he set up 28 goals and scored another 13 in 39 games with the Irish. He had the honor of playing for his first US National team (USA U20) in the World Junior Championships U20. He scored four points in six games in the international tournament, his totals favoring assists once again.

2012-13: Tynan skated in all 41 games for Notre Dame in his junior season and was the team’s fourth-leading scorer. He scored 10 goals (five on the power play) with 18 assists and was minus-1 with 28 penalty minutes. Notre Dame finished second in the CCHA behind Miami in the regular season but captured the last-ever CCHA playoff title, defeating seventh-place Michigan in the championship game. Tynan was named the CCHA tournament’s MVP. The Fighting Irish lost to St. Cloud State in the Midwest Regional semifinals to finish the years 25-13-3.

2013-14: Tynan made his pro hockey debut with Columbus AHL affiliate Springfield following his senior season at Notre Dame. Signed to a two-year entry-level contract by the Blue Jackets in April 2014, he had no points and was plus-1 with 2 penalty minutes in three regular season games with the Falcons. He did not see any action in the five-game playoff series with Providence. Tynan was the leading scorer for Notre Dame in his final season of college hockey. In 40 games he scored 8 goals with a team-leading 30 assists and was plus-15 with 30 penalty minutes. The Fighting Irish finished seventh in their first season in Hockey East but earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament after upsetting Boston College in the first round of the conference tournament. Notre Dame lost to St. Cloud State, 4-3, in overtime in the NCAA West regional semifinals.

2014-15: Tynan skated in 75 games for Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate Springfield in his first pro season. He scored 13 goals with 35 assists and was -7 with 48 penalty minutes. The Falcons finished third in the Northeast Division, one point behind Portland for the final playoff spot.

2015-16: Tynan skated for new Columbus AHL affiliate Lake Erie in his second pro season, leading the Monsters in assists. Lake Erie was one of four teams in the Central Division to compete for the top spot all season, reaching the AHL playoffs.

Talent Analysis

Tynan is a playmaker whose passing allows him to be effective centering speedy wingers that can get to the net. Although his size is an issue, he plays with grit and is not afraid to get in front of the crease. He has the potential to develop into a bottom six forward and can be utilized on the penalty kill.

Future

Tynan, in his second AHL season in 2015-16, is among the leading scorers for new Columbus affiliate Lake Erie. An undersized scorer who has dominated at every level he's played, he would become an unrestricted free agent if not tendered a qualifying offer this summer. Tynan's size works against him but his skill set suggests he can be an effective lower line scoring center.

Despite a horrendous start to the 2015-16 campaign that the team simply couldn’t recover from, a number of young players received quality playing time with the Blue Jackets this season and get to continue their seasons now. It might be hard to hear for a fanbase that was expecting playoffs this season, but a bright future in Cleveland means good things for the Columbus Blue Jackets. A deep playoff run builds crucial experience for young players and instills winning habits. But beyond the pro level, the organization has had impressive prospect performances at both the junior and amateur level, as well as overseas.

Photo: Zach Werenski finished with 36 points in 36 games for the University of Michigan. (Courtesy of Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)

The Columbus Blue Jackets may have had a disappointing 2015-16 campaign, but there is plenty of organizational depth in the system in terms of prospects. It’s not as though the team is due for another few years of rebuilding either. General Manager Jarmo Kekäläinen is committed to building a winner and he showed that last summer by trading for budding star Brandon Saad. Read more»

A little over a month ago, the Columbus Blue Jackets AHL affiliate was mired in mediocrity. The first year of the Lake Erie M0nsters’ affiliation with the Jackets, while working well logistically, wasn’t producing a winning product in the NHL or AHL. But save for the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Monsters have been one of the best teams in the AHL over the past 30 days. Read more»

Photo: Although Blake Siebenaler’s eight points in 19 games is below his normal pace, his plus-8 rating is the best plus/minus statistic he has posted in his OHL career. (Courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images)